Since women began working outside the home, sexual harassment has become a common experience for women, making research in this field relatively recent (the 1980's). In Italy, there is no specific legislation on sexual harassment and research on sexual harassment in Italian workplaces is scarce. Utilizing 265 female hospital workers, this study investigated sexual harassment. A cross-sectional study was conducted of female personnel in a public hospital in the city of Trieste, Italy. The Sexual Experiences Questionnaire, developed by researchers in 1995 was modified for questions concerning sexual harassment. Findings are reported for sexual harassment experienced in the 12 months preceding the study. The results indicate that sexual harassment was a frequent occurrence in the Italian hospital studied. The results of this study can assist in shedding more light both on the links between different types of male violence against women and on the links between domestic violence and women’s employment. Two distinct patterns of sexual harassment were shown: one by patients, rather indiscriminate, and one by colleagues, suggesting that these men strategically identify women whose external circumstances have made them more vulnerable. The study strongly supports the interpretation that sexual harassment is an abuse of power and that perpetrators are not joking or just being friendly, as often thought. A national law defining sexual harassment was recommended as possibly facilitating legal actions against perpetrators. References